Coming of Age, a theatrical song cycle - a collection of short stories about growing up - will have its New York premiere this summer as an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrating its 11th Anniversary Season. With a book, music and lyrics by Jon Provan, Coming of Age will be presented at Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Aves.). Directed by Ryan Pifher, performances will begin on July 7th and continue through July 13th.
In Coming of Age each member of the dynamic ensemble cast - Girl, Boy, Young Woman, Young Man, Woman, and Man - plays multiple roles, spanning the globe and the whole of human history. They are rebels, warriors, dreamers, and innocents, confronting life and leaping into the unknown. A rock-infused contemporary score, evocative lyrics, and inventive staging join forces to chronicle the joys and fears of becoming yourself. Coming of Age had its World Premiere at Porch Light Theatre in Glen Rock, NJ in December 2013.
The cast for Coming of Age is:
Katy Blake (Evita, Phantom - Nat. tour),
Maya Brettell (Beaches, the Musical -Signature),
Ethan Haberfield (Mary Poppins - B'way),
Ryan Jesse (Jersey Boys - B'way)
Joe Paparella (Les Mis, Jesus...Superstar - B'way) and Susanna Rizzo (Warsaw - pre B'way workshop).
The production team is comprised of:
Eric Harriz (scenic design), Nancy Reynolds (costume design), Zach Pizza(lighting design), Maureen Glennon (choreography), and Tim Love (production stage manager).
"The chance to produce Coming of Age as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," says Mr. Provan. "I'm thrilled to present my work on such a colossal platform, and I can't wait to share these stories with the New York City theatre community."
The performance schedule for Coming of Age is: Monday, July 7th at 7pm; Thursday, July 10th at 9pm; Friday, July 11th at 5pm & 9pm; Saturday, July 12th at 1pm; Sunday, July 13th at 4pm.
Memberships to NYMF are available for purchase at
http://www.nymf.org/member. Individual tickets are available at
www.nymf.org/comingofage or by calling (212) 352-3101. Tickets may also be obtained in person at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) beginning July 1.
Bios
Jon Provan (Book/Music/Lyrics) is a theatrical writer and the Senior Musical Director at Porch Light Productions in Glen Rock, NJ, where he has worked on dozens of shows since 2009. He received the 2013 NJACT Perry Award for Outstanding Music Direction (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Porch Light Productions, June 2013). The original musical Stage Fright, featuring Jon's music and lyrics, is produced annually at Porch Light, and the short-form musical My Date With A Zombie, for which he composed the score, premiered last fall at SoLuna Studio in Hauppage, NY. Jon has written hundreds of songs for rock bands and film scores, including the entire soundtrack for the upcoming New Comic Day, a feature-length motion picture (Saturday Pictures, Jupiter, FL).
Ryan Pifher (Director) is the co-founder and Artistic Director of Porch Light Productions in Glen Rock, NJ, a theatre and performance studio that has produced nearly 100 productions since it's opening in 2005. Directing credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Outstanding Direction of a Musical, NJACT), [title of show],The Wedding Singer, Little Shop of Horrors, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, Noises Off (Outstanding Direction of a Play Nomination, NJACT), I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Picasso at the Lapine Agile, The Last Five Years, RENT, Into the Woods, Fat Pig, Dinner With Friends, Play It Again, Sam. Acting credits (Member of SAG-AFTRA) include: Beyond Therapy, Information, Please (Best Actor Nomination, Spotlight On Festival), Romeo and Juliet, Round and Round the Garden, The Shape of Things, Noises Off. Writing credits include: Stage Fright: The Musical (Nominations for Outstanding Original Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical and Outstanding Youth Performer, NJACT).
Katy Blake (Woman) Nat'l tours: Eva in Evita, Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Whistle Down the Wind (World premiere, dir.
Hal Prince). Off Broadway/Regional: York Theatre, Ensemble Studio theatre, NYMF productions, created the role of Pam in CATCO's and Off-Broadway's The Last Smoker in America, and the role of Sirroco in the
Pasadena Playhouse production of Mask (dir.
Richard Maltby, Jr.), Hollywood Bowl in South Pacific with Reba McEntyre. Country music singer/songwriter. Love and thanks to Barry, Mom, and Dad.
www.katyblake.com.
Maya Brettell (Girl) is thrilled to work with such a talented team and to be a part of this incredible new musical. She was last seen onstage in the world premiere of Beaches, the Musical (
Signature Theatre). Select credits includeAppropriate (Woolly Mammoth Theatre), The Big Meal (
Studio Theatre), Macbeth (Synetic Theatre), Eleemosynary(Compass Rose Theater), Good Night Moon, and A Little House Christmas (ATMTC), and Annie (Toby's Theater). Maya can be seen next as Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof at
Arena Stage.
Ethan Haberfield (Boy) is excited to be part of NYMF again in Coming of Age. Ethan most recently played the role of Artful Dodger in Oliver at Papermill Playhouse. He made his Broadway debut at age 10 as Michael Banks in Mary Poppins. Soon after, he performed the role of Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird at The Shakespeare Theatre of NJ and won critical acclaim for his performance. Other credits include My Perfect Pet (NYMF), Scrooge in Concert (National Tour), Don Giovanni at NYC Opera. Film: Sinister with
Ethan Hawke, Dovid Meyer (Indie). TV: NBC New Years Eve in Times Square with Train; Sesame Street; 30 Rock, CBS guest vocalist, Knicks 1/2 time soloist.
www.ethanhaberfield.comRyan Jesse (Young Man) Coming of Age marks Ryan's second production with NYMF. Previously he was seen in The Last Starfighter (Blake/Zur). Other credits include Jersey Boys (
Bob Gaudio), Cinderella (Prince u/s), and Grey Gardens (
Joe Kennedy, Jr./Jerry). Ryan holds a B.A. in Musical Theater from University of Northern Colorado. In August, Ryan will attempt his first triathlon in Staten Island. Wish him luck! Thanks to Adams/Murnane Casting and Jon Provan/Ryan Pifher for this opportunity.
Joe Paparella (Man) has performed on Broadway in Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Good Vibrations. On tour, he was seen in Martin Guerre, Ragtime, and Mamma Mia. Other credits include
Leonard Bernstein's Mass at
Carnegie Hall, Thou Swell at Lincoln Center, Mame at the Kennedy Center starring
Christine Baranski, Lies My Father Told Me at the National Yiddish Theatre, and A Little Night Music at Baltimore Centerstage. He is a proud member of Actors' Equity since 1995.
Susanna Rizzo (Young Woman) is thrilled to be among the talented cast and creative team of Coming of Age! She is joining NYMF for the second time having recently been a semi-finalist in their Next Broadway Sensation competition. Recent credits include: Warsaw (Pre-Broadway workshop), Children of Eden, Fiction in Photographs, The Story of Jo-Beth, and john & jen. Proud graduate of CAP21 and of Interlochen Arts Academy. HUGE thanks to Eddie, casting and my awesome voice teacher-Matt. Endless love to my family and friends for their support and to my GBF!
www.susannarizzo.com.
About The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF)
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize musical theatre culture by discovering and promoting new musical theatre artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience.
Now in its eleventh year, the Festival is the largest musical theatre event in America. The preeminent site for launching new musicals and discovering new talent, the Festival provides an affordable platform for artists to mount professional productions that reach their peers, industry leaders, and musical theatre fans. More than 90 Festival shows have gone on to productions on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters in 48 states, and in more than 20 countries worldwide. Festival alumni have received a wide array of awards including the Tony Award® and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, NYMF received a special Drama Desk Award in recognition of its work "creating and nurturing new musical theatre, ensuring the future of this essential art form."
NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF 2014 is presented in association with Fuzzrocket, TheaterMania, and Production Resource Group. NYMF is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
NYMF Memberships, which combine charitable contributions with valuable, flexible ticket packages and perks like early seating and tickets to individual events, are currently available for purchase at (212) 352-3101 or
www.nymf.org/member.
For more information, please visit:
www.nymf.org
